The everyday business of providing waste and recycling services is enough to keep a solid waste manager in the saddle after hours. For many, solving daily challenges is one of the greatest rewards of the job.<\/p>\n
But every now and then, among the future planning, hiring and training, route design, phone calls, and community education, the job can seem overwhelming.<\/p>\n
The good news is, green waste management technology<\/a> that\u2019s purpose-built for the waste industry can help make things easier. Here are a few ways it does just that.<\/p>\n A growing enterprise hauler, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.<\/a> uses route optimization software<\/a> across multiple divisions to easily design better collection routes, saving resources and effort.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the name implies, EasyRoute is easy to use and easy to train. We have experienced great success with utilizing the tool across the full spectrum of route optimization. From conversion and automation projects, to complex acquisition integration, we can always count on their support to be top notch,\u201d says Sean Steves, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Solid Waste Operations for Casella.<\/p>\n Headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, Casella provides solid waste management services consisting of collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services in the northeastern United States. The company entered into an agreement with Routeware in May 2022 to expand on-board computers<\/a> and fleet automation software<\/a> across the hauler\u2019s growing footprint. The company also is using Routeware\u2019s route optimization solution.<\/p>\n Routeware\u2019s route optimization software, formerly named EasyRoute, helps Casella design efficient new routes quickly, which in turn helps them integrate new routes into operations and determine return on investment from acquisitions faster.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we acquire new companies, we can determine right away how many new trucks we will need to be efficient. This allows us to order trucks and integrate new routes sooner, so that we can see our investment return more quickly,\u201d says Jonathan Bell, Director of Operations Support.<\/p>\n One of the biggest issues handled by solid waste technology, route optimization also helps supervisors easily track specific productivity measures that are important to the company.<\/p>\n \u201cMost software won\u2019t let you change metrics to some degree. EasyRoute is versatile in this way,\u201d Bell says. \u201cThe (EasyRoute) differentiators for us are route sequencing and being able to implement our own metrics.\u201d<\/p>\n Route optimization makes communication between supervisors and drivers easier, too, especially when change takes place. When drivers can\u2019t see why and how routes are changed, challenges with uptake and buy-in can result.<\/p>\n \u201cEasyRoute allows you to review the changes you\u2019ve made with drivers. If they have questions, it\u2019s nice to have a quick answer \u2014 and to show them using the route tracing tool,\u201d Bell says.<\/p>\n In the City of Medicine Hat<\/a>, located along the South Saskatchewan River in southeast Alberta, solid waste drivers stay in their jobs for a long, long time. Because driver retention is exceptionally high, the City was faced with preparing for the retirement of several long standing employees.<\/p>\n They needed a way to store and share important information \u2014 about the City\u2019s 80 residential routes and 930 commercial collections \u2014 that was being housed in the memories of several drivers. Then they needed to be able to train new drivers with it.<\/p>\n Fleet automation<\/a> from Routeware made the process simple.<\/p>\n \u201cDrivers used to have to run a route three times to get it. With Routeware, it only takes once or twice,\u201d says Dallas Sutherland, Solid Waste Collection Supervisor.<\/p>\n With onboard computers<\/a> connected to back-office software, training new drivers now is quicker, and backfilling for soon-to-be retiring drivers will be easier. Plus, route sequencing and notes housed within Routeware are accessible to drivers via tablets at a touch.<\/p>\n A growing private hauler serving California\u2019s San Joaquin Valley, American Refuse<\/a> needed a solution to help improve internal communication and scale more efficiently.<\/p>\n Roll-off<\/a> staffing, operations and revenue were suffering due to a lack of real-time communication, and the business could not add new customers quickly enough because rerouting took days to complete on paper.<\/p>\n Easy-to-use workflow and waste billing software<\/a> from Routeware solved the communication conundrum, fixed routing issues, and helped get skeptical drivers on board with in-cab technology.<\/p>\n \u201cThe software is the heartbeat of the company,\u201d says Jeff Martin, Owner of American Refuse. \u201cI can\u2019t tell you how much EnCORE changed things for our team.\u201d<\/p>\n West of Phoenix is the exploding City of Buckeye, Arizona<\/a>. Buckeye\u2019s population has increased by 10 percent over the last two decades, making it number one in the U.S. for population growth. With its warm climate, the City also attracts a number of snowbirds who winter there, further complicating efforts to optimize routes and disseminate information.<\/p>\n Growth and fluctuations in population created challenges for waste and recycling education programs<\/a>. With as much as 30 percent of the population turning over with the changing seasons, the City needed a solution to teach people when and how to recycle \u2014 because the number of phone calls was getting out of hand.<\/p>\n With Routeware\u2019s digital tools for waste and recycling communication, powered by ReCollect, Buckeye pushed the easy button. The digital collection calendars<\/a> and Waste Wizard<\/a> \u2014 a searchable \u201cwhat goes where\u201d database \u2014 saved the City 500 hours in phone calls in a matter of months.<\/p>\n \u201cWith ReCollect’s metrics, I know how many people are looking up their schedule as well as what they are searching for. It gives me the ability to understand all of our time savings,\u201d says Robert van den Akker, Environmental Manager.<\/p>\n Clearly, the right tools can make managing solid waste operations easier. Not only that, but solid waste management technology that\u2019s purpose-built for the waste and recycling industry makes sense in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, too.<\/p>\nEasily design waste and recycling routes<\/b><\/h2>\n
Easily onboard new drivers \u2014 and plan for the future<\/b><\/h2>\n
Easily manage workflows and billing<\/b><\/h2>\n
Easily educate a growing community while lowering inbound call volumes<\/b><\/h2>\n